ahayes - a Hanhs Macaw is a mini macaw with a big macaw personality. *VERY* vocal and *VERY* smart. They live 35-40 years. I have one that chatters away, yells at the kids, "answers" the phone and goes "uh-oh...KITTY!" when the kitten comes into the bird room. She talks to the big macaw (who can only say hello 8 different ways), sings ABCD and yells at the vacuum.
This is a nice parrot that isn't too big and intimidating (smaller beak!) and doesn't live as long as other parrots.
Quaker Parakeets are great also. They are not very big, and can talk up a storm!